What to Pack First When Moving – Your Ultimate Checklist
7 things to pack first, 4 rooms to start in and 1 HUGE time saver. Our team of moving pros has put together a what to pack first when moving checklist for you to steal and use to make your move easier, simpler and faster
Garage. Bedrooms. Or kitchen. What should go first? Well, our teams pack homes for moving all the time, so we put together our ultimate checklist of what to pack first when moving – hope it helps to make your move easier!
Moving house can be an incredibly stressful time for everyone. Packing is a huge task that can seem quite daunting before you get started. It is important to be prepared before you start packing your things and ensure you have all the packing materials you need, including moving boxes and packing tape – see where to find free moving boxes and read our guide on how to choose the right moving boxes.
Sometimes, the hardest part of packing is deciding what to box up first. Below is a list of things you can get started with months or weeks before you make the move.
- Items in Storage
- Clothes that are not in season
- Tableware and cookware that are rarely used
- Any artwork or picture frames
- Books
- Any extra linen or towels
- Trinkets & Ornaments
What to pack first when moving checklist
1. Items in Storage
Items that you have stored away in a storage unit are usually the best things to pack first, as you are unlikely to use them before the big move day. Make sure all these items are boxed up or prepped for the removal truck. Try to keep the number of boxes you use limited, making sure you pack them until they are full, to create more space in the removal van and have less items to carry around when moving.
2. Clothes that are not in season
Out of season clothes are a great thing to pack at the start as you will not be using them unless you are moving at the cusp of a new season. Usually, these clothes will not need to be accessed for a few months. Make sure you label the boxes or storage containers you are using for these, as it can be one of the last things you unpack in your new home, and you can focus on some of the more important things in the meantime.
Related: Where to donate clothes when moving?
3. Tableware and cookware that are rarely used
It is unlikely that you will be hosting a dinner party right before you move to your new house, so packing up expensive China, or cookware that is rarely used early on is a good idea. Precious and easily breakable dishes should be very carefully packed, making sure they are wrapped up and will not break in transit. Make sure you clearly label the box as fragile, so the removal company knows to be careful with these boxes. Need help with moving a refrigerator? we share helpful tips on how to move a refrigerator.
4. Any artwork or picture frames
Although it might be sad to take these things down early, it is something that you do not need up in your home before moving day. You do not want to end up leaving them behind in the chaos of moving. Make sure you wrap these up in something that will protect them, like bubble wrap, so that there won’t be any breakages on moving day. For smaller frames wrap the up and then place inside a box to keep everything together. The less loose possessions you have, the better.
5. Books
Pick a book or two you are still going to want available to you before you move, the rest can be packed up in boxes. Try and pack them up in a good-sized box, where they are not going to be moving around in transit as this can cause damage to the books. If you want to be really organised, then pack them up in order. Put the ones you have already read or are unlikely to want to read for a while at the bottom of the box and keep ones you might need soon after moving into the top. This way you will easily be able to get hold of the ones you want.
6. Any extra linen or towels
Most households have a lot of extra towels and linen, far more than needed. An easy thing to pack away quite a bit before moving are any extra towels, bedsheets or pillows you have. When packing these, make sure they are in a closed container, to save them from getting dirty in the move. There is nothing worse than moving into a house and having to do laundry straight away, especially if it is unnecessary.
7. Trinkets and ornaments
Another thing that might feel sad to pack away so soon are any trinkets or ornaments you have around the house. However, you do not need them, and these can take some time to wrap up and back away, making sure they stay safe on move day. If you have any favourites keep them in a particular box or at the top of a box so that you can easily access them in your new house.
What order should I pack to move?
Well, if you just follow the flow of the above checklist on what to pack first when moving, you can break it down like this:
- Start with things you have in storage – garage, spare room, the attic, store rooms
- Then move onto your bedroom closet – the stuff you’re not wearing right now
- Next, go to the kitchen, washroom and linen closet – pack the things you don’t use often
- Then, tackle the lounge – books, ornaments and artworks
What is the easiest way to pack when moving?
By far the easiest way to get your packing done is not to do it at all. See, removal companies offer packing as a service. And it’s well worth it, because it means you don’t have to pack, you just organise your stuff and a team of pro movers come in with all the equipment and manpower that’s needed to pack you up in a fraction of the time it would’ve taken you to do it yourself. See
How much will it cost to have movers pack for me?
Having the moving company pack for you isn’t that big a deal. In fact, lots of people prefer it – you have enough on your plate with the move already! And you can see exactly what it’ll cost with a fast, online quote with no obligation. Get yours right here:
Related:
Where to donate your furniture in SA
